Terminal block and safety light for electric surface cooking units



Dec. 20, 1949 A. H. KITSON 2,492,100

TERMINAL BLOCK AND SAFETY LIGHT FOR ELECTRIC SURFACE COOKING UNITS Filed April 20, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 20, 1949 A. H. KlTSON TERMINAL BLOCK AND SAFETY LIGHT FOR 2,492,100 ELECTRIC SURFACE COOKING UNITS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1946 [a 0 Dig INVENTOR. flrffiar 2?! 22 .14

Patented Dec. 20,1949 I TERMINAL BLOCK AND SAFETY LIGHT FOR ELECTRIC SURFACE COOKING UNITS ii-um n. Kitson, Grosse Pointe, Mich. I Application April 2 0,-1948, Serial No. 663,693 7 Claims. (Cl. 17'l--311) This invention relates to a terminal block and safety light for an electric surface cooking unit and has particular reference to a terminal block for a unit of this kind wherein provisions are made for a safety light for the unit which is constructed and arranged so that the light is on at all times whenever the unit or any part thereof is energized.

A great many accidents occur in connection 'with the use of embedded element type of electric surface cooking units due to the fact that these units do not glow when they are on low heat. While many suggestions have heretofore been made to overcome this difficulty, none of such suggestions has proved satisfactory. The present invention contemplates a terminal block and safety light unit in which the light is arranged to throw a beam of light through the openings in the surface cooking unit whenever any part of the circuit thereof is energized, thus providing a foolproof and inexpensive arrangement.

.Principal objects of the invention, therefore, are to provide:

A terminal block and safety light unit for an electric surface cooking element; a f

- A safety light unit for an electric surface cooking unit which is constructed and arranged so that whenever any part of the cooking unit is energized, a beam of light will be visible through the openings therein:

'An electric surface cooking unit having a ter- ,minal block and safety light unit associated therewith in which the terminal block provides a mounting for the safety light and in which the light is shielded from the. heat of the cooking elements; and

A safety light for an electric surface cooking unit which is simple in construction, emcient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Other and furtherobjects of the invention will be app rent from the following description and claims and will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which-there are two sheets, which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated a plying those principles. Other embodiments of the inventionembodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims. I also contemplate that of the several different features of my invention, certain ones thereof may be advantageously employed in some applications separate and apart from the remainder of the features.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a view taken generally along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, but with certain parts shown in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the terminal block and light unit with the reflector shield omitted;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a terminal block embodying a modified form of the invention;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along the line 1- -1 of Fig. 6; and

of a cooking range. Annular spaces It, 20 'and' 22 are formed by the rings in, i2 and I6 and the button 24 which partially fills the opening in the centerring ll.

'ends of the conductors 26, 28 and 30 on the terminal block 32. Screws 34 are associated with the terminal block ends of the conductors, whereby the conductors in the range may be fastened to the ends of the conductors in the terminal.

block 32. The terminal block- 32 is made of an electrically non-conducting material,,such as porcelain. It is moulded to form a recess 38 and an electric socket 88, the socket 38 being disposed so that the bulb 40 mounted therein may be positioned in the recess 36. The screw thread portion of the socket 38 defined by a metal sleeve is connected by a conductor 42 to the conductor 28.

The head'of a bolt 44 arranged in th bottom of the socket 38 forms th other terminal for the light bulb 40. A conductor 46 connected to an external Portion of the bolt M is adapted to be connected to the safety light terminal on the usual switch which controls the flow of electric current to the unit. .The safety light switch terminal (not shown) -is constructed and arranged so that the circuit through the light I will be the heating elements of the rings l and I 2 are closed.

A reflector shield I0 is detachably secured to theflnderside of-the frame II and in'spaced relation therewith by means of a wing nut 52 fastened on a bolt 54 which in turn may be carried by the button 24. The reflector shield 50 is constructed to form a trough or channel it for conducting and directing light rays from the light 40 to the openings and 22. For this purpose, the shield 50 which may be formed of sheet metal is suitably formed to provide the channel 80 and the ends of the channel are formed so, as to fit around the terminal block 32 as shown in Fig. 3 which shows the terminal block in section and the shield ill in elevation, except for a cut away portion in th center thereof. That is, the outer end of the trough 60 communicates and is in line with the recess 38 and the terminal block so that the light emitted by the bulb it will be confined by the side walls of the trough 60 and directed toward the openings 20 and 22 in the surface unit.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the terminal block I32 is much like that illustrated in the embodiment just described, except that the back and bottom wall of the recess I38 in which the light 40 is arranged are formed by a metallic reflector I as which is secured by screws 0 to the terminal block. Integral portions of the terminal block form the side walls of the recess I I8 and a receptacle for the light 40. This terminal block and light is adapted to be employed in the same kind of an arrangement as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, except that the trough or channel for directing the-light rays from the light it through the openings adjacent the rings Ill and I2 would be formed slightly differently than shown in Fig. 3 so as to fit the form of construction as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

In both modifications, it should be noted that the light 40 is arranged in a recess away from the heat generated by the elements In and II and that the light is also protected against spillage. If desired, the wall defining the bottom of the trough 80 may be provided with a small opening therein through which any liquid which enters the trough might escape therefrom.

The particular form and construction of heatin element and reflector shield 50 therefore are merely exemplary of elements of this type which may be employed in practicing the invention.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview o the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an electric surface cooking unit of the embedded element type wherein sections of said unit are spaced to provide openings therebetween, a terminal block for such unit mounted on such unit and to which the current conductors for the embedded element are connected, said block having a receptacle for an electric light bulb thereon and a recess for such light bulb, a light bulb mounted in said receptacle and arranged in such recess, said terminal block being positioned relative to said unit so that said light bulb is arranged to throw a beam of light emitted therefrom through said openings in said unit, said bulb being arranged to be energized when said element is energized.

2. An electric surface cooking unit as defined in claim 1 wherein a shield is provided for directing light from said bulb through said openings.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a l reflector forms a part of said recess.

4. In an electric surface cooking unit of the embedded element type wherein sections of said unit are spaced to provide openings therebetween, a terminal block for such unit mounted on such unit and to which the current conductors for the embedded element are connected, said block having a receptacle for an electric light bulb thereon and a recess for such light bulb, a light bulb mounted in said receptacle and arranged in such recess, said terminal block being positioned at one side of and relative to said unit so that said light bulb is arranged to throw a beam of light emitted therefrom through said openings in said unit, and means to confine the light emitted by said bulb to said unit, said bulb being arranged to be energized when. said element is energized.

5. For use with an electric surface cooking unit wherein sections of said unit are spaced to provide openings therebetween; a terminal block mounted on such unit, said block having a receptacle for an electric light bulb thereon and a recess for such light bulb, a light bulb mounted in said receptacle and arranged in such recess, said terminal block being positioned relative to said unit so that said light bulb is arranged to throw a beam of light emitted therefrom through said openings in said unit, said bulb being arranged to be energized when said element is energized.

6. In an electric horizontal surface cooking unit of the embedded element type wherein sections of said unit are spaced to provide an upwardly facing opening therebetween, a light source arranged to be energized when the heating element of said unit is energized, said light source being supported from and arranged below said unit and relative to said opening so that light rays therefrom are directed upwardly through said opening in said unit in order to indicate when the element thereof is energized.

'7. In an electric horizontal surface cooking unit of the embedded element type wherein said unit is formed to provide an upwardly facing light emitting port in the exposed horizontal surface thereof, a light source disposed remotely relative to said element and arranged to be energized when said element is energized, said light source being arranged below said unit and relative to said port so that light rays therefrom are directed upwardly through said port in said unit in order to indicate when the element thereof is energized, said light source being substantially concealed by a port of said unit and being supported thereby.

ARTHUR H. KITSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,642,677 Grebe Sept. 20, 1927 1,699,737 Hicks Jan. 22, 1929 2,346,237 Rutenber Apr. 11, 1944 

